Snape's Backslide (was Re: Welcome!)

[annemehr]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "Kelley" <kelleythompson at g...>
wrote:

> Yeah, I know what you mean; I've always believed he *is* on the side 
> of good (for very dubious reasons?), but is generally just a 
> misanthrope (who does he seem to genuinely like?  He respects DD, I 
> think respects McG, but as far as actually liking anyone...) and that 
> his natural personality works very well to serve his spy (double-
> agent?) role.  (The Draco favoritism, etc.)


Which reminds me of the little scene in OoP which really grabbed my
attention:
-------------------------------------------------
Professor McGonagall had just stumped up the stone steps into the
castle; she was carrying a tartan carpetbag in one hand and leaning
heavily on a walking stick with her other, but otherwise looked quite
well.

'Professor McGonagall!' said Snape, striding forwards. 'Out of St
Mungo's, I see!'
--------------------------------------------------


Such a sudden change of mood, after having just been sneering at
Harry. It almost looks as though Snape found himself caught with his
hand in the cookie jar and was smarming up to McGonagall in hopes that
she wouldn't be too hard on him. He had nothing to say when she
basically rewarded Harry with House points for whatever unknown thing
(from her POV) that Snape was about to punish him for.

I'll never believe Smarmy!Snape. The only alternative that leaves,
though, is that he was genuinely glad to see her back and nearly
herself again.  I'm not a Snape/McGonagall SHIPper, but I do think she
is the closest thing he has to a friend.  In OoP she says she'd been
teaching at Hogwarts for 39 years; she must have taught Snape. I bet
she was exactly the kind of teacher he liked best and respected:
tough, strict, highly intelligent, competent, and extremely fair.

I'd say, too bad he didn't see her as more of a role model, but that
wouldn't be any fun, now, would it? (As for backsliding, I don't know
-- what I'm really hoping for is some really disturbing backSTORY!)

Annemehr

'Or maybe,' said a very cold voice right behind them, 'he's waiting to
hear why you two didn't arrive on the school train'